The Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) which was scheduled for last Saturday (March 7) was not held as it had not obtained the approval of the Ministry of Sports for the meeting. In addition it is learnt that the incumbent President of SLRFU, Asanaga Seneviratne has not received the [...]

The Sunday Times Sri Lanka

SLRFU sin-binned by Sports Ministry

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The Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) which was scheduled for last Saturday (March 7) was not held as it had not obtained the approval of the Ministry of Sports for the meeting. In addition it is learnt that the incumbent President of SLRFU, Asanaga Seneviratne has not received the green light from the sports hierarchy to contest again it is said.

Rugby stalwarts believe that the move by Seneviratne appeared to be a side-step as he was elected twice before. He was elected in 2012 for one year and in 2013 he was elected for a two-year term under the amended sports law and his current seeking would have kept him in office for another two years making an aggregate of five. There is also a question of his eligibility under the sports law as the name of Seneviratne has transpired in a number of cases as the directing mind running a national newspaper. These public reports have so far not been denied.

Additionally the Vice President, Lasitha Gunaratne, too may not be eligible as his son is expected to play at the top level for a leading school. Gunaratne, who was Vice President for three years, was Secretary for two years previously and also served during the period of the Interim Committee. The Treasurer, Kiran Atapattu, has served five years already without the two years he served in the Interim Committee.

There are also issues suggesting fraud by playing two Fijians in the Sri Lanka team which has now caused ripples. This issue became the talk of the town in the rugby circles after a sudden doubt of the availability of documents to prove rights to play for Sri Lanka arose. There is serious concern in the deceptive course followed for which the hierarchy for rugby has to answer.

This deceit is serious as it can have effects with the International Rugby Board (IRB) as well as the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU). The President, the Vice President and the Executive Director are named as the people who were in charge of the operation which is dubbed ‘born Fijian to Sri Lankan Grandparents’. This is a matter that has drawn the attention of the Ministry of Sports and also the National Sports Council. It is too early for the new president of the Sports Council Nimal Lewke but he and his team will have to look in this direction.

Meanwhile Iswan Omar, a former stalwart or hill country rugby, alleges that the Annual General Meeting of the Central Province Rugby Football Union is null and void. He alleges that the meeting was not attended by the constituent clubs including Kandy Sports Club. The persons who have attended and voted are not representatives in accordance to the CPRFU constitution. He goes on to say that the meeting was attended by invitees, friends and non-club members.

He also says that to hold office one must be a member of a constituent club and claims that the President and Vice President elected are not current members of a club while the Secretary and Treasurer are only members of the Central Province Referees Society and are not eligible for appointment in the Provincial Union. Omar urges that action be taken in accordance to the Sports Law 25 of 1973. These events too will have an effect on the Governing Body as the appointment and representation at the AGM can be questioned.

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